Vacuum truck solids handling apparatus

Abstract

A vacuum truck solids handling apparatus includes a truck having an internal combustion engine and a truck frame. A vacuum source, a solids collection container and a separator assembly are all mounted on the truck frame. The separator assembly is adapted to separate solids from a fluid stream drawn under vacuum by the vacuum source. The separator assembly has a pivotally mounted discharge, which pivots between a closed discharge position and an open discharge position. In the closed discharge position, the discharge discharges solids into the solids collection container. In the open discharge position, the discharge discharges solids externally.

1. A vacuum truck solids handling apparatus, comprising:
 a truck having an internal combustion engine and truck frame; 
 a vacuum source mounted on the truck frame; 
 a solids collection container mounted on the truck frame; 
 a separator assembly mounted on the truck frame, the separator assembly being adapted to separate solids from a fluid stream drawn under vacuum by the vacuum source, the separator assembly comprising:
 a cyclone separation chamber adapted to receive an incoming fluid stream of air, fluid and solids and separate the incoming fluid stream into a first outgoing stream of air and a second outgoing stream of solids mixed with fluid, the second outgoing stream being discharged through an airlock exit for further treatment at atmospheric pressure; 
 a solids screen positioned outside of the vacuum to separate solids in the second outgoing stream from the fluid, the at least one solids scene is positioned at an angle; and exhaust from the vacuum source is directed onto the angled solids screen; 
 means to transport the second outgoing stream from the airlock exit to the solids screen; 
 a pivotally mounted discharge which pivots between a closed discharge position and an open discharge position, in the closed discharged position the discharge discharging solids into the solids collection container in the open discharge position the discharge discharging solids externally; and 
 
 means for moving solids from the solids screen to the discharge. 
 
   
   
     2. The vacuum truck solids handling apparatus as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the means for moving solids from the solid screen to the discharge further comprise a drive mechanism that shakes the angled screen, causing solids to migrate down the angled solids screen to the auger in the discharge. 
   
   
     3. A vacuum truck solids handling apparatus, comprising:
 a truck having an internal combustion engine and truck frame; 
 a vacuum source mounted on the truck frame; 
 a solids collection container mounted on the truck frame; 
 a separator assembly mounted on the truck frame, the separator assembly being adapted to separate solids from a fluid stream drawn under vacuum by the vacuum source, the separator assembly comprising:
 a cyclone separation chamber adapted to receive an incoming fluid stream of air, fluid and solids and separate the incoming fluid stream into a first outgoing stream of air and a second outgoing stream of solids mixed with fluid, the second outgoing stream being discharged through an airlock exit for further treatment at atmospheric pressure; 
 a solids screen positioned outside of the vacuum to separate solids in the second outgoing stream from the fluid; 
 a plurality of baskets and a conveyor that carries the baskets sequentially from the airlock exit of the cyclone separation chamber to a solids dumping position over the solids screen and then returns the baskets sequentially to a solids loading position; 
 a pivotally mounted discharge which pivots between a closed discharge position and an open discharge position, in the closed discharge position the discharge discharging solids into the solids collection container and in the open discharge position the discharge discharging solids externally; and 
 means for moving solids from the solids screen to the discharge. 
 
 
   
   
     4. The vacuum truck solids handling apparatus as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the solids collection container is pivotally mounted for pivotal movement between an operative position and a dumping position. 
   
   
     5. The vacuum truck solids handling apparatus as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the fluid stream drawn under vacuum is water and an auger having an auger bed is positioned in the discharge from the separator assembly. 
   
   
     6. The vacuum truck solids handling apparatus as defined in  claim 5 , wherein the auger bed has fluid flow passages and hot fluids heated either directly or indirectly by the internal combustion engine flow through the fluid flow passages to heat the auger bed to dry solids carried by the auger along the auger bed. 
   
   
     7. The vacuum truck solids handling apparatus as defined in  claim 5 , wherein hot exhaust gases generated by the internal combustion engine flow along the discharge of the separator assembly to dry solids carried by the auger along the auger bed. 
   
   
     8. The vacuum truck solids handling apparatus as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the separator assembly further comprises:
 a fluid catch basin in fluid communication with the second outgoing stream of the cyclone separation chamber to capture water. 
 
   
   
     9. The vacuum truck solids handling apparatus as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the at least one solids screen is positioned at an angle, the means for moving solids down the angled solids screen being a drive mechanism shakes the angled solids screen causing solids to migrate down the angled solids screen to the auger in the discharge. 
   
   
     10. The vacuum truck solids handling apparatus as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the first outgoing stream of air existing the cyclone separation chamber is passed through a secondary cyclone separator for further cleaning. 
   
   
     11. The vacuum truck solids handling apparatus as defined in  claim 1 , wherein water which accumulates in the water catch basin is pumped through at least one of filters and a centrifuge for further cleaning prior to being reused. 
   
   
     12. The vacuum truck solids handling apparatus as defined in  claim 1  wherein the pivotally mounted discharge in the open discharge position is adapted to discharge solids onto a pile or into a truck. 
   
   
     13. A vacuum truck solids handling apparatus, comprising:
 a truck having an internal combustion engine and truck frame; 
 a vacuum source mounted on the truck frame; 
 a solids collection container pivotally mounted on the truck frame for pivotal movement between an operative position and a dumping position: 
 a separator assembly mounted on the truck frame, the separator assembly being adapted to separate solids from a fluid stream of air, water and solids drawn under vacuum by the vacuum source, the separator assembly having a pivotally mounted discharge which pivots between a closed discharge position and an open discharge position, in the closed discharge position the discharge discharging solids into the solids collection container and in the open discharge position the discharge discharging solids externally; 
 an auger having an auger bed, the auger being positioned in the discharge from the separator assembly, the auger bed having fluid flow passages, hot fluids heated either directly or indirectly by the internal combustion engine flowing through the fluid flow passages to heat the auger bed to dry solids carried by the auger along the auger bed, hot exhaust gases generated by the internal combustion engine flowing along the discharge of the separator assembly to dry solids carded by the auger along the auger bed; 
 the separator assembly including:
 a cyclone separation chamber adapted to receive an incoming fluid stream of air, water and solids and separate the incoming fluid stream into a first outgoing stream of air and a second outgoing stream of solids mixed with water, the second outgoing stream being discharged through an airlock exit for further treatment at atmospheric pressure; 
 a water catch basin positioned outside of the vacuum to capture water; 
 at least one solids screen positioned outside of the vacuum between the second outgoing stream of the cyclone separation chamber and the water catch basin to separate solids in the second outgoing stream from water; 
 
 a plurality of baskets and a conveyor which carries the baskets sequentially from the airlock exit of the cyclone separation chamber to a solids dumping position over the solids screen and then returns the baskets sequential to a solids loading position; and 
 means for moving solids from the at least one solids screen to the auger in the discharge. 
 
   
   
     14. The vacuum truck solids handling apparatus as defined in  claim 13 , wherein the at least one solids screen is positioned at an angle, the means for moving solids down the angled solids screen being a drive mechanism shakes the angled solids screen causing solids to migrate down the angled solids screen to the auger in the discharge. 
   
   
     15. The vacuum truck solids handling apparatus as defined in  claim 13 , wherein the first outgoing stream of air exiting the cyclone separation chamber is passed through a secondary cyclone separator for further cleaning. 
   
   
     16. The vacuum truck solids handling apparatus as defined in  claim 13 , wherein water which accumulates in the water catch basin is pumped through filters for further cleaning prior to being reused. 
   
   
     17. The vacuum truck solids handling apparatus as defined in  claim 14 , wherein exhaust from the vacuum source is directed onto the angled solids screen. 
   
   
     18. The vacuum truck solids handling apparatus as defined in  claim 13  wherein the pivotally mounted discharge in the open discharge position discharges solids onto a pile or into a truck.